| 
Murphy: Well, I don't think
there will ever be a female AJ Foyt. I just don't think women
have the background to have the drive or the natural ability
to do it. Look at how women drive on the street: Women don't
have the experience, or they're in a van with 3 or 4 kids
screaming in the back. It’s never been something that
they've been brought up to think racing's really great.
What did you race after rocket car crash?
Murphy: A Honda Civic, not
the wooden shoe looking one, but the first one that kind of
look like they do now. That was a kick, went all over the
United States with that thing. Honda sponsored me with it
and we went everywhere.
What class did you run that in?
Murphy: Z stock automatic.
You went form a rocket car to a Z stock automatic?
Murphy: Yeah, yeah isn't
that fun? Oh I know, every time I thought about it. The first
time I ran the car, some guy came up and said “Hey Lady,”
not knowing who I was or anything, “Hey lady, don’t
you think you have the slicks on the back?” And I said,
“No. Why?”
Very funny.
Murphy: He proceeded to
tell me “Well, first of all this is a front wheel drive.”
I just said, “Oh.”
After the rocket car crash, I didn't want to go back into
Funny Car again. And after breaking my neck and I certainly
wasn't going to drive a rocket car again.
Not everybody can make those kinds of decisions.
Murphy: And then too, I
think maybe STP was kind of losing their interest in me because
I wasn’t driving some big old hairy thing.
After that I drove in the first women’s Grand Prix
in Monaco. It was a great experience, because I was the only
American invited. Women drivers from all over the world and
who had been active in sports car racing and whatever [were
invited] to come over there to race and they paid all our
expenses and it was great, we had a great time.
How many people can say they raced Indy, Monaco, Bonneville,
Pomona, etc.? That's just outrageous. You know, most people
just dream of going to these places.
Umm, let me ask you this: You wore unique garments with your
firesuits. At Sears Point, were you wearing the ruffles and
the bellbottoms when you crashed?
Murphy: Uh huh.
Really.
Murphy: Yeah well Jim Diest
made the suit for me, and I told him I wanted ruffles. And
the bellbottoms…
How big were the flares?
Murphy: Not real big.
One last question. What was your best ride?
Murphy: Maybe a Ferrari
I got to drive in the ladies race on a grand prix circuit,
I didn't drive it against the men. The Ferrari was right hand
drive, and I had to shift with my left hand, I had never driven
anything like that and I said OK, here goes!
|
